The new McClung class Medium Landing Ship (LSM) is the newest amphibious warship of the US Navy and US Marines. While it is technically an LSM, it is functionally a Tank Landing Ship (LST), able to transport heavy armour and equipment directly onto a landing beach, as well as troops and lighter cargo. The McClung class will be a key component of the US Marine Corps’s new military strategy, shifting away from large amphibious landings to distributed island operations, which use mobile anti-ship missiles to disrupt enemy shipping. The development path of the McClung class LSM has so far benefited from defence acquisition discipline, with a realistic design, reasonable capabilities, and modest construction cost. This means a large number of ships for the class, possibly over 30 units, may well be acquired.
Source: McClung Class Landing Ship: US Navy’s New Low – Tech Trump Card
